This report is the first ever comparison of countries on the basis of sales of their clean technology products. It includes the 27 EU member states and all G7 and BRIC countries and the major renewable energy and energy efficiency segments. All segments of sales are added to yield an aggregate country ranking by sales. A country’s position in the ranking reflects its ability to produce and sell products and services that reduce CO2 emissions. High ranking countries also generate high economic value and employment for a skilled workforce. Denmark, Brazil and Germany lead the ranking. China is the sixth largest. On the basis of an analysis of these sector leaders and interviews with international experts a number of success factors are identified as a “lessons learned”.

The market for clean technology (CET) is booming, and was in 2007 larger than the pharmaceutical industry. It will be the 3rd industrial sector in the world in 2020 (EUR 1600 billion)

The worldwide market for clean energy technology is growing fast. Between 2000 and 2008 wind energy was growing worldwide with 24% a year, biodiesel with 31% and solar with 53%.

With a total volume of EUR 630 billion a year in 2007 the clean energy technology market is already larger than the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Sales form energy efficiency products was EUR 540 billion, and renewable energy technologies contributed EUR 91 billion. Despite the crisis it is expected that this growth will continue with 5% a year for efficiency and 15% for renewables (in a conservative IEA 450 scenario). This will result in a total market volume of EUR 1600 billion a year in 2020, making it one of the
largest industries in the world.

WWF made the first ever country ranking based on clean energy technology sales and it is topped by Denmark, Brazil and Germany

If you look at relative income from sales (weighted by GDP) Denmark, Brazil and Germany are ranking highest. The Danes are world market leader in wind turbines and insulation, with which they are number one. Brazil is at number two because of her large scale production of bio-ethanol. Germany has a long
tradition in building machinery and equipment which made a good basis for her clean technology industry. Germany excels in several technologies, particularly in wind- and solar energy.

Countries aiming to develop their Clean Energy Technology sectors should emulate the leaders and:
• Launch Technology Action Programs that develop a single technology from research to demonstration. This will make government support more consistent and bridge the gap between academia and industry.
• Central banks should encourage the integration of CO2 risk into financial models to facilitate a shift towards “clean” investments. More capital must also be raised for seed investment in Clean Energy Technology
ventures.
• Develop a strong home market for Clean Energy Technology applications by influencing the purchasing decisions of government, business and consumers through government procurement, greater stability in (policies on) sustainable energy subsidies and tax differentiation.